Saturday, December 31, 2011

Australia bound!!

Today is the day!! I knew it would come! I am happy and excited for Daniel and the journey/adventure that is ahead, but my mothering heart is sad, it's just hard to send them off!! He and Terry are in route to the OKC airport! He will fly to Dallas at 6:40 and then board a plane in Dallas around 10pm and be in the air for 17 hours til he arrives in Australia!! It's funny, they are 15 hours ahead of us, and the little children told Daniel, he will be living in the future being ahead of us by that many hours! I guess they are right! It's amazing to see how the Lord has provided way over what Daniel's goal was, I trust God has his purposes in mind with that!! Thank you for being apart of meeting that need and goal! If the Lord brings him to mind in these next 3 months, please obey those promptings and pray! Being in Gods will is the safest place!!

Tonight.... movies and junk food!! Gotta bring it in right!! Some are doing a lock-in at church!! I doubt we make it through all the movies!!

Hope you stay safe and bring in the New Year with a desire to follow God more, pray more, share more, love more, forgive more.....

Friday, December 30, 2011

Christmas in Florida #6 {our last day}

It came and went much to fast! I am in love with Florida weather and palm trees and there are some very special people there too!! Tuesday we spent the day around the house, playing games, going to the park again, (where Elijah broke his nose) can anything else happen???? The evening meal was going to be a grandmothers specialty!! A true New York Italian dish! She had pots and pans all over the place! Chopping fresh this and that, can of all kinds that would have me pleading for a small taste before it was all ready!! She even gave me the recipe!! Sausage and Bow Ties! A savory tasting tomatoey red sauce with Italian pork sausage blended together and then heaped on tender bow tie noodles! Delicious is what I am talking bout! A huge Italian salad with homemade dressing and white pizza to give a crunch to this fabulous meal!! Hats off to grandma for a meal I will never forget and one I am going to attempt!!

That evening we went to this unique outside mall with all kinds of stores and shops all tightly packed within decorated streets of Christmas cheer and lights! We went to the center of the mall area outside and a giant tree of maybe 30feet stood. We shopped a bit until 9pm for a light show synced with Christmas music to entertain us! It even "snowed" in Florida! Fake snow was blown out above our heads as the music blared and lights danced to the music!! A memorable night!!

Back to the house we topped the night off with s'mores, ice cream and movies not wanting to bring an end to our last night!

.....but it did...morning came, goodbyes were said, hugs held close, whispers in ears "to come see us," friends made, promises made of "see ya soon!" I have to say that our families blended so well and like one of the Snyder little girls said......

.....And we didn't even have a fight!!


Thanks is not big enough!
Thank you Snyder Family!

Kristen, Katy, Kevin, Sue (the mom) and Tim
Shannon, Michael aka Dude, Alan (dad) and Lauren!!
                                                                              ..... and grandma, but she is not in the photo!





Thursday, December 29, 2011

Christmas in Florida #5 {beach day}

The day I looked forward to before we even left!! we got to the beach a little after noon and stayed til a little after 5pm, then we went to a restaurant on the beach strip and the Snyder family blessed/treated us to a wonderful meal, all 23 of us!!

It was pretty cloudy when we got there, but within a short time, the sun burst through and blue skies as far as we could see! The younger children got in the water for a while but it was a bit cold and they were not too excited about the saltiness!! Sooo they got busy working on a "sand city!!" They spent 5 hours on it and had many admirers that stopped and took pictures and chatted with us!! Caleb and Kristen went parasailing! Daniel, Bethany and Shannon, a Synder girl, rented a jet ski for an hour and zoomed on the ocean!! They played tons of vb!!! It was a day to remember!!!

A beach sunset is incredible!!! I am so glad I got to see one!! One day I want to go back, so much more I wanna see and do!!

Oh, we just got home!! So thankful for safety and vehicles ran fine and we are all home!!

NOW, we are getting ready or Daniel is getting ready for his trip!! He leaves Saturday!! So much to do!!

Also we found out Anna's car was totaled so now searching for another vehicle!!

I have never seen soooo much laundry as I have sitting in this house!! Groceries need to be bought and school to get going!!! Looks like I am going to be doing a hundred miles an hour heading into 2012!!!

Thanks for praying for our trip!!

Cindy

 P.S. all these were taken and edited with my phone, so convenient!!!



Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Christmas in Florida #4 Christmas Day!!

(Since I am blogging from my iphone, I can't arrange the photos in order, I wish I could, so just put them in order best you can!!)

Waking up on Christmas day to warm and sunny skies would always be my first choice!! I think you all know by now, I like warm/hot weather!! Getting 24 people up and in the LR was a challenge!! Sue, Kristens mom blessed our family in getting us in on their tradition of stocking opening!! They had each of us a stocking and I mean jammed packed with individually wrapped items, lots of items!!!! It was a fun event for our children! Mercy was especially enjoying it!! Their family opened their gifts and I told Sue it brought back memories of Christmas morning when I was young.... lots of gifts to pass out and lots to clean up! we had the most wonderful breakfast! Three different casseroles and fruit. It was definitely a bed and breakfast meal!!

We couldn't let the sun and very warm temps go to waste so swimming began.... on Christmas Day! How many of you got to do that?? I think swimming and the wii were the big hits while at the house!!

A little more time at the nearby park, tons of snacks, dips, veggies, cheeses for lunch and then the wii competition! When you have twin 24 yo's competing on some dance moves..... Hilarious!!!!

In the afternoon before our Christmas dinner Elijah, headed to the airport to pick up Melissa. Her family was in Georgia visiting her brother so as they headed back we were blessed to have her join us in Florida!!

All day labors of Sue and sweet grandma brought forth an incredible Christmas Dinner!! Ham, Roasted pork and Prime Rib with so many side dishes and rolls, even 24 people could not even eat it all!!

What a wonderful day together celebrating Jesus!!

Cindy